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“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and
in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

On Tuesday, October 4th, as Hurricane Matthew slammed southwestern Haiti, it left behind another hideous disaster. This deadly storm had “weakened” to a Category 4 with sustained winds of 150 mph when it hit the Tiburon Peninsula. What made the effect of this storm so devastating is how long it chose to linger over the Grand-Anse department with these forceful winds and rain. According to Wikipedia, it affected 1.125 million people and caused US$1.9 billion in damage. When it finally left, about 90% of ESMI’s ministry in Jeremie was severly damaged or destroyed! But praise be to God, who is able to do more that we could ever imagine, about 60% of what was damaged has been rebuilt! Many thanks to long-time partners and new partners who came along side us, in such a time as this, and made the rebuilding process a wonderful testimony of God’s overwhelming goodness.

As one can imagine, the past six months have been intense with rebuilding efforts and at the same time wanting everything to continue functioning as “normal” as possible in Jeremie; namely schools and university, ongoing leadership training, and welcoming US ministry and vision teams.

Here are just a few highlights of the past six months:

EVANGELISM
*Evangelism through church planting and leadership development continues to be the primary focus of ESMI. 2016 ended with ESMI churches across the island reporting 4,174 conversions! To God be the glory!
* Of the 17 ESMI churches destroyed by Hurricane Matthew in the Jeremie area, 9 have been rebuilt
Photos below: the Dr. David Nicholas Chapel on the University of Jeremie (UJ) campus serves the UJ students as well as that community, Numero Deux.

Reconstruction of the Nicolas Chapel-Dec. 2016

Completed and Repainted-June2017

*Currently working on construction of the Bonbon Church and school

Bonbon Church/School_Oct. 2016

Bonbon Church/School-June 2017

*February 27-March 1: New partnership with Leadership Resources to form Leadership Team of 20 from different regions of the island who will focus on leadership training in their regions.
* May 1-6, about 1500 pastors and church leaders in Cayes trained in the discipleship program, “Celebrate Recovery.” This training was very well received and preparations are underway for the next training in February 2018.

*On going leadership training monthly in: Les Cayes, Gonaives, Jeremie and Mirebalais
*August 26:18 students from the School of Business and 20 seminary students will graduate with their BDiv degrees. Under their collaborative leadership, and by God’s grace, ESMI hopes to plant 15 new churches within the year.

EDUCATION*Praise the Lord for ministry partners who helped to rebuild the University of Jeremie (UJ) Multi-Purpose building and to add a second floor for additional classrooms.

Multi-Purpose Bldg-Oct. 2016

Multi-Purpose Bldg on UJ Campus-June 2017

*Professors from Ohio State University did seminars for UJ students majoring in agriculture, business and nursing

OSU Pilot Seminars-April 2017

*In May, a new ministry organization agreed to partner with several UJ School of Business students to do a pilot project focusing on micro-businesses in the Jeremie area
*Prayer Request: Due to Matthew destroying the livelihood of so many who relied on the land, it has been very difficult for the families of UJ students to pay their tuition. ESMI has been seeking one-time gifts of $1000 from 100 donors to end the school year. To date, only 70 donors with one-time gifts of $1000 are needed.

EMPATHY*After Matthew, so many in the US, who couldn’t travel to Haiti, wanted to be able to minister in a tangible way. Alyssa, a high-school student in S. Miami, came up with the idea of packing backpacks for students displaced by Matthew. Her parents supported her in this effort. Soon after, her church community became involved and this extended to the South Miami community. Donations arrived in Jeremie in January and were quickly disbursed to families in Jeremie and surrounding cities. Over 500 families benefited from these donations.

Bus#1-Filled in S. Miami, FL-Nov. 2016

Bus#1-Donations Arrived-Distributed to over 500 families in Jeremie and other cities-Jan. 2017

A second bus, Bus#2, was filled in Central Florida. Donations were distributed in April through the Pastoral League of Churches in Grand-Anse (Jeremie). Twenty churches, representing many families, benefited from these donations.

Bus#2-Filled in Central FL-Donations Distributed-April 2017

*At the Lundy Children’s Village: 8 of 10 homes rebuilt, along with the cafeteria, church and medical clinic. We praise the Lord that 70% of this property is completed. Currently working on the school.
*Widow’s homes: After Matthew, so many widows were left with very little shelter. Thanks to several partners, ESMI is now working on building house #13 for one of these ladies. These are 10 x 20, two bedrooms with a small covered porch, at a cost of $5000 US.

Widow’s Home after Matthew-Oct 2016

Widow’s Home-June 2017

*From February to April, ESMI welcomed two medical team in Cayes and two in Jeremie. One team ministered to about 1300 patients in four days and saw 80 conversions. To God be the glory!

ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT*Praise the Lord, ESMI was able to restart the water business in Jeremie. Chicken Farm still down.

Dlo ESMI-Back in business-May 2017

PRAISE/PRAYER REQUESTS:*Praise the Lord for ministry partners who have helped us tremendously in the rebuilding phase*As the Lord provides, 15 new church plants to be established this year with our seminary graduates
*Pray for US summer teams, who will partner in doing medical missions, light construction and children’s ministry. The biggest team of 53 will serve in Les Cayes, June 11-17.
*ESMI vehicles are in constant repair due to extreme bad road conditions. We are now in need of two new SUVs and a ministry team bus in Jeremie

As always, we remain humbly thankful for your partnership in prayer and financial support, in seeing Haiti transformed “One City at a Time” for God’s glory. We close with a video recapping ESMI’s vision and passion for the island.

Thank you all for praying with us before Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti and even while it was pounding its fierce winds and rains on the island. I know you are still kneeling in prayer as the clean-up and assessment of the damage begins. Please pray for everyone’s safety these next few days.

CAMBRY UPDATE FROM LOUIS
Here is a an update from Louis as ESMI board member and President of Give Hope Global, Roger Braswell, spoke with him last night:
“I have spoken to Pastor Louis and this is what he reported to me at approx 7:00 PM …
-First, our children weathered the night well and are safe at Cambry for now.
-High winds peaked between 3:00 and 7:00 AM but are still gusting and it continues to rain.
-The damage to trees, roofs and wooden buildings was immense.
-The streets of Les Cayes are flooded and in his words the city is “devastated”.
-Roads are impassable and covered with trees and debris.
-He has worked all day using our skid loader and 8 men with machetes to clear the road between his house and Cambry. They made lots of progress but did not make it all the way there before turning back to return home by nightfall. All this in the wind and continued steady rain, by the way.
-Pastor Darnier and Wilner are at Cambry and he has been in touch with them. They have adequate food and water for now.
-Pastor Louis believes that no ESMI orphans or staff were injured during the storm so far.
-He expects to clear the rest of the road to Cambry by mid-day tomorrow and assess the situation there. Getting a working generator for the pump on the well is the first order of business.
-He said that he spoke with many older Haitians along the way today and they all said this was the worst hurricane that had ever hit SW Haiti. He said that Les Cayes was like a desert with all the trees blown away.
-Our physician, Dr Junior Osselin has arranged for our Community Health Workers to be at Cambry (hopefully beginning tomorrow) to take charge of ensuring the best possible hygiene given the number of children there. Once Pastor Louis has opened up the road to Cambry, Dr Junior will also be traveling there from his home in Les Cayes to lead the efforts to keep the children healthy.”

FAYETON CHILDREN’S VILLAGE, GONAIVES
In a brief telephone conversation, children and care-givers are well. Praise the Lord!

JEREMIEStill no news from Dony or anyone in Jeremie. Will send an update as soon as I hear.

Thankful for God’s mercy through the storm and for your intercessory prayers.

Photos just came in at 7:40pm EST showing the arrival of the children from Cavaillon, Biggouse and Darivager all at the Cambry Children’s Village. Praying for a peaceful and restful night for these little ones.

Just a quick update from Louis and Dony. Winds began picking up about 12:00noon EST and are getting stronger. Cell phone signals are intermittent. About 5:00 pm today, the last of the children from the following villages arrived at the Cambry site: Darivager, Biggouse, and Cavaillon. Casa Major and La Hatte have a concrete shelter on the top of a hill and will wait out the storm there.

In Jeremie, the children at Lundi were transported to the School of Joy Building on the University of Jeremie campus.

Lundi Children and Care-Givers Arrive on the UJ Campus

Time was also spent moving the folks that live on the beach to the Lycee School for Boys in downtown Jeremie. ESMI DLO carried water to the site for the community to have as they shelter there for the night. Time was spent in prayer this morning with the pastors in the Grand-Anse presbytery and strategies made on how to assist their congregation and villages with preparations. Not much can be done for the 1,500 chickens at the chicken farm. What could be given away was done today and the others…we wait to see.

Our home is filled with our friends and co-laborers in the Gospel. Tonight will be a night of prayer as the storms roll through. I, Sharon, wish I could be there. I know many of you wish the same also. We will be praying together for our beloved people of Haiti! Thankful that we serve a compassionate and faithful God who will see His people through the storms.

As I am able to get news from Haiti, I will update. Tomorrow’s plan- pray for Louis as he is the deputy delegate/governor of Les Cayes and so will have to visit all the different areas. His fear is that Isle La Vache, an island off the coast of Haiti will be covered. In the Grand-Anse Department/State, (Jeremie), the city of Dame-Marie is directly on the western coast. ESMI staff plans to visit there and at the same time to get updates from our pastors in the other departments across the island as to how they fared.

As Hurricane Matthew is now approaching, Louis and Dony have been preparing. In Les Cayes, Louis assisted in evacuating people from the island of Isle La Vache which is now under water. Two of ESMI’s children’s villages, Casa Major and La Hatte are near rivers, and so the children will all be moved to the Cambry site for safety. In and around Cayes, Louis and his team have been driving around and moving people to safer sites but always, there are those who refuse to move.

Meanwhile, this morning as Dony preached at El Shaddai Church at Versailles, he was surprised that so many in the city of Jeremie did not know about Hurricane Matthew’s impending path.

Morning Service at El Shaddai Versialles, Sunday, October 2, 2016

The last time Jeremie had a severe hurricane was October 17, 1935 where an estimated 1500 people lost their lives. The children at Nan Lundy Village will be moved tomorrow morning because of the fear of rushing waters down the hills. The children will stay in the following: School of Joy building and the administration building on the University of Jeremie campus as well as at our home. The Emmanuel children in Chateau should be safe on their site. Very thankful for the new buildings that were recently constructed on this site. The high school at Versailles will open its classrooms to accommodate all those who reside on the beach below. You can be assured that all ESMI’s concrete church buildings and schools across the island will be open to house those who need shelters.

Pastors Ezekiel and Cupidon in Gonaives are also making the necessary preparations for the children at the Fayeotn Village.

Food supplies: Thankful to the Lord that food supplies are bought the first of every month and so the children’s villages should have their supply on hand.

How can you pray? The floodwaters are what’s frightening. Pray for God’s protection over lives, livestock and land. So many of our Haitian people rely upon the land and their livestock for survival. To lose these along with the lives of family and friends would be devastating. Pray that God in His mercy and might will restrain the powerful force of the winds and rain that can cause catastrophic damage to this small island striped of her trees. Our God is more than able! I trust that as you pray, you will believe in the power of prayer to a Mighty God as our Haitian Christians do! Seventy percent of the people have very limited shelter and resources to protect them from such a hurricane but we know Who can!

“The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire; it has bridled the rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course , and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. Prayer is an all-efficient panoply, a treasure undiminished, a mine that is never exhausted, a sky unobscured by clouds, a heaven unruffled by the storms.”~St. Chrysostom

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of Godfor the salvation of everyone who believes…for in the gospel a righteousness from god is revealed,a righteousness that is by faith from first to last.”Romans 1:16-17

The best way to have the gospel proclaimed is through church planting and leadership development. Why church planting? Because you are building the new church, the body of Christ, by evangelizing the community. Why leadership development? Because you are teaching men how to rightly divide God’s word as they proclaim the gospel. This has been ESMI’s strategy for the past twenty years both in the US and in Haiti.

With a challenge from my brother Dr. Hegeman of MINTS (Miami International Seminary), we have been intentionally assisting our pastors and seminary students in their church plants by providing a building. If you have been to Haiti, church buildings as you know them in the US are not the same. Below is a photo of where one church plant met for almost two years. This church plant was started by one of our seminary students, Marc Antoine, and in order for any of our students to graduate from the Theological Seminary at the University of Jeremie, he must do a church plant.

Thanks to Dr. Hegeman’s assistance, this church plant now has a building and was able to have services there on Resurrection Sunday. That same afternoon, the church had a community outreach concert. This is just the beginning of how they plan to fully utilize this building. What a blessing not only to the church members but the community for soon there will be a pre-k4 school.

In downtown Jeremie, the second 2016 church plant building project began in early March. Evangelism teams have been going out since January and an average of 17 people come to know the Lord weekly. This is how the church is growing in downtown Jeremie. Here are photos of what the building looked like last year June and the building this past Sunday, April 17th.

With only thirty percent of the country being literate, educating the populous is also the responsibility of the church in Haiti. ESMI is very involved with over 40 elementary schools, two vocational schools and its first university, the University of Jeremie. The latter began three years ago. This past Sunday, April 17th, the Nursing School had its “Prise de Coiffe” ceremony. This ceremony celebrates the second year students being given their “special nursing hat” and recognition that they have started their practicum in the hospital.

ESMI is glad to have Mme. Marie Concepia Pamphile lead this program. Not only is she the director of the General Hospital in Jeremie, but she began the very first nursing school in Port-au-Prince after completing her studies in Belgium. She was director of the school in Port-au-Prince for over 20 years and wrote most of the curriculum that the nursing schools across the island now use. The University of Jeremie is honored to have her on board as the dean for the School of Nursing.

Praise and Prayer Requests

January 10th marked 5 years since we moved as a family to Jeremie, Haiti. We stand amazed to see all that God has done in drawing many to Himself, in strengthening the churches to form presbyteries in three states, the establishment of a university in Jeremie with six fields of study, the addition of two children villages to care for 183 orphaned and/or abandoned children, seven new church plants, and…well, they can’t all be named. You have to come and see so you can praise God with us!

Praise God for the strength he continues to give my young father of 81 years, Bresile St. Germain. This April, he was invited to speak at the annual conference for the Baptist churches in southern Haiti. Over 12,000 were present nightly for these services. Louis St. Germain also had the privilege of welcoming the interim President of Haiti to the Sunday morning service on the last day of the convention.

Louis w Haiti’s Interim President Privert

Praise God for new church planting partners. This year we hope to assist 12 pastors and seminary students in their church plants. This cost between $12,000-$15,000. So far, we have seven such committed buildings. Trust God with us to provide for the other five church plant buildings.

May 16-20, we will have host our annual pastor’s retreat/conference in Jeremie. We anticipate over 300 pastors will attend. Pray for safe travels as some will travel 15-20 hours to get to Jeremie. Pray that it will be a refreshing time for these men.

This past January, we had professors from two universities conduct seminars at the School of Agriculture. One of these US universities, in partnership with “Farmers without Fences” has invited 6 of the top Ag. Students to participate in their summer seminar. Pray that these 6 students and the UJ Ag. Professor, who will accompany them, be granted the required US visa to participate.

With well over 200 ESMI employees in Jeremie, our monthly shortfall is about $10,000. Some months, God sends these resources on time and sometimes late but He continues to provide. Pray and trust God with us to meet this monthly need.

All of us as full-time missionaries with ESMI are experiencing shortfalls in monthly support. Would you consider giving a one-time gift or begin supporting monthly Louis, Bresile or myself? This can be done online at www.esmihome.org, or check sent to:ESMI c/o The Keyes Company, 2121 SW 3rd Avenue, Miami, FL 33129.

Thanks for your partnership in the ministry of the gospel…a gospel that we need not be ashamed!

In His Service,

Dony, Sharon, Gracianna and Sarah Joy
PS This semester for homeschooling, the girls and I are reading George Mueller. Pray with us for the above just like George Mueller would–trusting and waiting upon God’s provision in unusual ways. To Him be the glory!

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

It’s hard to believe but ESMI is now in its 20th year of ministry in Haiti. It all began in 1995 when Louis and Martina, with their then two of seven small children: Kristofer and Lyssa, felt a strong call to return to Haiti. The ministry began in Cambry with the four E’s on that site: the church representing Evangelism; the school representing Education; the small home with 14 orphans and the clinic representing Empathy; and the ice factory representing Economical Development. Thanks to their commitment to the Lord, ESMI has now branched off into other departments/states, desiring to replicate what was started in Cambry with the hope of “Transforming Haiti One City at a Time!”

The month of May is always an exciting month for ESMI. Louis and Dony got to do what they are passionate about … training leaders for church planting and leadership development, ESMI’s first E–Evangelism.

Pastor’s Retreat, Jeremie, May 2015

About 150 pastors were present at this year’s Annual Pastor’s Retreat in Jeremie, May 4-8. At least 8 of Haiti’s 10 departments/states were represented. Thankful for our ministry partner, Long Hollow, for sponsoring this retreat for the third year. This year’s focus was on “The Call of the Pastor.” At the end of the week, all the pastors got a copy of “The Pastor’s Life” in French to add to their library.

Then on Sunday, May 10, seven of the seventeen churches in the Grand-Anse department/state came together for their annual worship. You can enjoy the worship with us.

In order to accommodate more pastors,

Pastor’s Retreat in Gonaives w/ Pastor Young, May 2105

the Pastor’s Retreat was also held in Gonaives on April 21-24 with over 95 pastors in attendance. It’s always encouraging to see these men of God leave refreshed in the Lord both spiritually and physically.

Ministry in the USOn May 15 and 16, I had the privilege of doing a pastoral training with MNA Church Planting Coordinator Ted Powers.

Pastoral Training in Miami, FL w/ TE Powers

At the end of the training, like in Haiti, the pastors were given a book to add to their library. The training was well received by these men. They have asked for the next training to be on “Ministry and Marriage” as this is the greatest challenge that they see within the Haitian churches. Pray with us that we will be able to help the pastors face this challenge.

Road to the Marketplace Church

Inside the Marketplace Church

Some other highlights from the past five months:
1. One of ESMI’s newest ministry partners, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palm Bay, FL, is assisting with the revitalization of a church plant in the marketplace in downtown Jeremie. This church is literally in the marketplace. As we head to church, we park on the side street and then walk through the market to the church building. We pass by the vendors with their fresh produce on the ground and multi-colored umbrellas shading them from the Sunday morning heat.

Remodeling of the Marketplace Church, May 2015

One cannot miss the distinct smell of rotting fruit and vegetables with that of onions, garlic, and all the other spices mingled together. With only the second month into the revitalization of this church, we are now looking to add a second floor and upgrade the facility. Pray with us in these coming months for the spiritual growth/revival of this church and wisdom in the outreach programs to the hundreds of vendors and buyers who are right at its doorsteps every Sunday morning.

2. ESMI is getting closer to have all the 118 churches fall under the MERH-Members of the Reformed Churches of Haiti. Hope to tell you in our next newsletter that we have the official paperwork in hand.

3. Thankful to all our teaching elders/pastors who continue to give of their time in training our seminary students and pastors. Earlier in the year, we had Pastor Nat Osborne of Central Florida participate in a three-day conference and pastoral training. Then Dr. Neal Hegeman of MINTS (Miami International Seminary) continued his training with our master’s program students; Pastor Kinser of First Presbyterian Church, Macon opened our second semester by challenging our high school, university students, and seminary students during chapel. Thankful also for our two PCA pastors who assisted with the pastor’s retreat/training in Gonaives and to Pastor Pete for his participation in the pastor’s retreat in Jeremie earlier this month.

EDUCATIONOn January 7, ESMI welcomed the first agricultural team. This team of 12 was made up of Tennessee farmers, agricultural professors and students. The UJ agricultural students came in a couple days earlier from their Christmas break to hear from these US farmers and professors. Both students and teachers had engaging conversations on soil and farming. There were also lots of laughs! It was hilarious translating from the Tennessee southern “slang” to American English and then to Creole/French.

The Challenge of Educating the Very PoorLike so many other developing countries, educating a community involves more than just building a school facility. It also involves assisting students financially as much as possible, without taking away their dignity, as well as educating the community/parents on the importance of education. Haitian families are confronted with the choice of using their extremely limited funds for food for the family vs tuition for one of their many children. Thanks to several of you who have responded in providing scholarships for the university and seminary students.

EMPATHYSince January, we’ve welcomed seven missions teams: five medical/VBS teams, a construction team, and a vision-casting team. Teams have served in Cayes, Gonaives and Jeremie. The impact of these teams on the children and the community is always a tremendous blessing. For example, because of the service of the medical team in Goniaves, the clinic there has been able to keep its doors open to serve the community. There are now two doctors who are strong Christian leaders. These men did their medical training in the Dominican Republic and are currently overseeing this clinic at the Fayeton Children’s Village. They have a desire to serve and so with their own resources, they started a nursing school. This school meets at the Fayeton Clinic, and the students are getting “hands-on” training as they serve the community.

ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT-SummaryThe water business is finally underway selling water by the 5-gallon bottles as well as in small plastic bags and producing ice. With summer fast approaching, the hope is that sale will increase significantly. Thankful to our ministry partner who made this possible.

Chicken farm continues to do well seasonally. The next step is to introduce layer chickens on this farm to begin selling eggs.

The Bonbon church was given a little over $1700 to start a fishing business by purchasing a boat and putting a small motor in it. Pastor Laguerre and his congregation are encouraged by this new business to assist them in serving their community. You may recall that this church plant, being only two years old, has already planted six others. To God be the glory!

Praise & Prayer Requests1.Thankful for the opportunity earlier this year to participate in the mission conferences of long-time supporting churches in Texas, Florida, and Georgia and new ones in North Carolina.

Missions Conference in Texas at Bay Area PCA

2. Between June 6-August 15, we’ll have approximately 11 missions teams serving in Cayes, Gonaives and Jeremie. Please pray as we partner together in serving these cities and their communities.3. Several ESMI board members and missionaries will be at this year’s PCA General Assembly in Chattanooga, TN. Stop by Booth #529 to hear more about what God is doing in Haiti through ESMI.
4. Revitalization of church in the marketplace of downtown Jeremie
5. Challenging financial needs of the School of Joy High School and the University of Jeremie as we finish this school year.

Many thanks to you, our ministry partner, for your ongoing support in seeing the gospel spread across the country of Haiti one city at a time!

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”Isaiah 40:29-31

Well it’s time to welcome the new year and Sharon and I still have so much to share with you on just all that has happened in the last three months. The Lord has kept things moving and by His strength, we keep moving along, desiring to see His will accomplished. Thank you again for your partnership in the ministry of the gospel to the Haitian communities in Haiti and North America. We will highlight some of 2014 as well as update you on the happenings of this last quarter.

Evangelism:On December 14, we had the dedication of the Emmanuel Church in Chateau, Jeremie. Over 700 people attended this service. We praise God for our ministry partner who made the construction of this building possible. The building will also serve as an elementary school for the 53 orphaned children at this Children’s Village site.

Emmanuel Dedication Service- Dec 2014

2014 Evangelism Highlight: There were approximately 8 pastoral and leadership training seminars. It’s always a blessing to see these leaders’ faces after the training. Thanks to all our US teaching pastors who gave of their time! The 300 discipleship small groups continue to meet in and around Jeremie.

Education:In November, the University of Jeremie (UJ) added the School of Nursing with over 30 students enrolled. God is indeed using this campus. Every day it is filled with well over 500 young people attending one of the following schools: The School of Joy High School, the Seminary, the Professional School, or the University of Jeremie. What a privilege it is to share Christ everyday with these students and to see some come to know Christ and others grow in their faith. We are also very thankful for the teaching staff. We have a few teachers, Haitian Diaspora, who studied and lived in the US and Europe, ask to share their giftedness in teaching at the University.

Cambry Vocational School

Cambry, in the South, also opened their Professional School and have 97 students in their programs. What a blessing to saturate the minds of these young people with the Gospel as they learn about agriculture, business administration, nursing, masonry, carpentry, etc.!

2014 Education Highlight: For the past several weeks, the chapel time at UJ has been focused on “Our Value in Christ.” The realization of Christ’s love spoke to the heart of one young lady whom we will call Maria. Maria wanted Christ in her life but this meant she could no longer attend UJ. Why? Because her tuition was being paid by a man who was not her father. She shared her heart with one of the pastors on staff. What a blessing it was for her to know that as a ministry we would pray and assist her not only in her walk with the Lord but also with her tuition!

Empathy:In September, 2004, Gonaives experienced a terrible storm that killed over 4000 people and hundreds of children were left orphaned. ESMI responded to this need by taking a number of these children to the South, and thus, began the expansion of ESMI’s orphan care program from 20 kids to now 980 children. It also began ESMI’s involvement in this department. There has been a number of heart-aching challenges, but by God’s grace, this Children’s Village was visited by a top official from IBESR, Haiti’s Social Service department, this past November and received high recommendations. Again, we remain thankful to ministry partners who helped with the renovation and sustaining this work during some difficult years. The children now have an “adopted” church that visits them at least four times and the medical clinic opened its doors this November.

Gonaives Medical Ministry Nov 2014

The medical team saw over 500 people in 3 days and had 20 come to know Christ! To God be the glory!

2014 Empathy Highlights: Thanks to our 487 team members who partnered with us in ministering in Cayes, Gonaives and Jeremie. Teams encouraged not only the children at the villages but also their care-givers, and served in medical missions and community outreach.

Tonton Nwel at Bonbon Dec 2014

This December, Tonton Nwel (aka Santa Claus), visited Jeremie and had a great time sharing the gospel with the children in the Jeremie General Hospital, children at the downtown church in Jeremie, and at the Emmanuel Children’s Village, Bonbon.

Economical Development:With unemployment being extremely high in Haiti, 80-85%, part of ESMI’s strategy is always to look for ways to empower pastors and church leaders in the work they do by developing a small business in their communities. These take resources. We praise the Lord for our ministry partner who gave the needed resources to develop a water business.

Water Business-“Dlo Lavi” (Water of Life)

This will help to provide partial scholarships for more students to attend UJ. For 2015 we hope to create a Rental Car business as another resource for scholarships so that the University of Jeremie can have a wider impact in the entire Grand-Anse Department and beyond.

PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS

Praise God for the 3,143 who came to know Christ in the 118 churches in the Sud (South), Artibonite and Grand-Anse Departments!

For 2015, we are looking for six new ministry partners to help plant six new churches in the Grand-Anse Department

Pray that ESMI can do a strong, four-day “Marriage and Ministry” Conference for pastors and their wives

God’s blessings on the water business in January 2015 to provide more scholarships

ESMI’s vision for our children at the nine Children’s Village Sites is to see them develop into strong transformational leaders. Pray for the community who cares for these children daily: the pastors, mamas, nurses, teachers, etc.

Praise God for the ESMI board and their leadership and that God will continue to give His wisdom and guidance.

Again, thank you for your faithful prayers and contribution. God is building His Church in Haiti and we are privileged to join with you in His work. A blessed 2015 to you and your family!Donations can be sent to:
El Shaddai Ministries International, Inc.
c/o The Keyes Company
2121 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 601
Miami, FL 33143

“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”-Colossians 1:28

What a great privilege we have at ESMI to participate in the work that God is doing in Haiti! We see lives changed! We see churches planted! We see Christian leaders and pastors excited about learning and teaching God’s Word! Below is just a brief summary in words and photos of what has happened since our last e-newsletter. How we wish we could stop to share more frequently, but ministry in Haiti is constantly going…never a dull moment with the blessings and challenges of serving others for Christ glory!

Worship Class- Sept 2014

EVANGELISMLeadership DevelopmentThe University in Jeremie/Seminary was blessed with the strong teaching of several PCA pastors. Pastor Jordan did an intensive class on Pneumatology. You can imagine the vibrant discussions related to this topic! At the end of the week, one of the pastors, who is also an MA student at UJ, stood up with his appreciation speech written out. He explained the importance of this teaching and thanked ESMI for being a “bridge” between the two countries, USA and Haiti, to bring this needed

Pastors receiving Emmaus Bible Dictionaryto add to their library

teaching to them as pastors, Christian leaders and seminary students.

In September, over a period of three days, a hundred plus pastors and leaders were trained in: worship, marriage, and homiletics. This was the first time the classes were done as a rotation and it worked very well. Everyone was blessed! A few of the wives also participated in a Bible Study luncheon.

Emmanuel Construction Week of Sept 8, 2014

Church Planting-Emmanuel Church BuildingWe praise God for our ministry partner who raised resources to build a church in Chateau. This site is the home of the Emmanuel children. This building, like most others, will not only be used as a place of worship but

Emmanuel Construction Week on Oct 10, 2014

also as a school for the children and those in the community. We wait to see all that God will do.

EDUCATIONESMI’s First Professional Schools: Cayes and Jeremie

ESMI-Professional School Ad into Jeremie

God has blessed ESMI with the opening of two professional schools- one in Cayes and the other in Jeremie. These schools are important to help our children in the nine Children’s Villages to have a skill before they leave. Our children, fifteen years and older are enrolled in classes such
as: tiling, pastry-making, computer repair, etc. These schools also serve

UJ Professional Students-Aug 2014

the surrounding communities. We have adults who are pastors, merchants, construction workers also attending these classes to learn new skills to increase their viability for employment or self-employment.

Buses for the UJ Campus

One of Two UJ Buses to

The UJ campus, the site for the School of Joy High School, The University of Jeremie/Seminary, and the professional school is about 30 minutes drive from the city or a 90-minute walk. How grateful we are for God’s provision of these vehicles, and of course, for the ministry partner God used to purchase them! Another church heard about these vehicles and

Games, Toys, Clothing, etc for Lundy and Fayeton

packed one stuffed with clothes, toys, desktop computers, etc. We were able to distribute these between Gonaives and Jeremie.

School of Joy 9th Graders and the National ExamsIn Haiti, all students, private and public must do the National Exams at 6th, 9th and “Philo.” The last grade, Philo, is similar in some ways to pre-college classes in the US. Failure to pass any one of these exams will not allow a student to move to the next level. We praise God for the School of Joy teachers, who after having these 9th graders since 7th grade, were able to see 90 % of them pass. When the results came out, the word around Jeremie is that the students at the School of Joy did the best! Thanks to our ministry partners who continue to give so we can provide only the best teachers for these students who come from very poor communities.

University of Jeremie-TestimonyOn October 6th and 7th, well over 70 prospective students attended orientation. Several first year students were present. One young lady, an agricultural major, stood up in the gathering and shared her testimony. She did not know Christ when she came to UJ. Her home life was very challenging with her experiencing abuse from a father deeply involved in voodooism. He was a witchdoctor. The Gospel is shared openly at the university and after her coming to Christ, she was put out of the home by her father and whatever financial support she may have received was stopped. The UJ leaders, who are also pastors, helped her through this difficult time. She herself has gone on to lead another friend to Christ and both attend the church plant in Lundy, Jeremie. To God be the glory!

EMPATHYThanks to all our VBS and medical teams who came over the summer to partner with us in serving the communities in Cayes, Gonaives and Jeremie. The Chikungunya virus, spread by mosquitos, was certainly a challenge during those months and our medical teams served well.

ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT-Praise God with us for the recent donation to start another business to assist the ministry services of ESMI. We will share more later but hope that you will be in prayer that this business will meet the intended goal.
-At the last board meeting, the ESMI directors approved a young missionary couple to come aboard for the next two years. The husband will assist in structuring this area of the ministry, while his wife is open to teach English at UJ. We want to give them the opportunity at a later time to introduce themselves to you, our ministry partners and ask that you be in prayer as they prepare to make the transition to Jeremie next January.

PRAYER REQUESTS:–The School of Joy is now in its third year of operation and the University of Jeremie in its second year of operation. It remains a challenge to know where the needed resources will come from. But continue to trust God as we seek funding in different ways.
-The entire ESMI staff in Haiti, over 600, always covet your prayers as they serve as pastors, care-givers, teachers, support staff, etc.

Church @ Parrotti Preaching Point-April 2014

-In 2015, ESMI hopes to assist 5 of the “Preaching Points” in having a small building for worship. The first is Parroti which is the daughter church of the congregation that meets at Dr. David Nicolas Chapel on the UJ campus.
-And thank you too, for remembering our family in your prayers.

Mafrand Fort, Mafrand, Grand-Anse-Aug 2014

Gracianna and Sarah Joy turned seven this past September.

Thank you for your faithful support and we close with this link that shows the excitement of these children at the Fayeton Village when a ministry partner installed solar lights. Pray with us that this will be the same excitement across the island of Haiti as the Gospel is preached and lives are changed.